The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is an Irish advisory body that advises the Chief Medical Officer and

Department of Health A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...

in the area of immunisation procedures and related matters. NIAC was established within the

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), ( ga, Coláiste Ríoga Lianna na hÉireann) is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accredit ...

(RCPI) in 1998. It comprises representatives from a broad range of medical and healthcare organisations with expertise in immunisation.

Purpose

According to its Term of Reference, the purposes of NIAC are as follows: * To provide advice to the Department of Health on vaccines, immunisation and related health matters in the Irish context * To develop and disseminate the National Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland * To advocate for best immunisation practices

Membership

The members of NIAC is nominated by the organisations listed and approved by the President of the RCPI. Those nominated to NIAC will serve a four-year term and may only be re-elected to serve one additional term. As of 2021, Professor

Karina Butler Karina Mary Butler is an Irish professor of paediatrics and chair of Ireland's National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). Background Butler graduated with a degree in medicine from University College Dublin (UCD) in 1978. She became a Fell ...

serves as the Chair of NIAC. She also sit on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

Voting membership

Voting membership nominating organisations:

Additional Membership

In addition to voting membership, NIAC memberships are also nominated from the following organisation. The additional members have access to NIAC meetings, papers and may contribute to NIAC discussion, but will not have voting rights in order to maintain NIAC's independence. *

Health Service Executive The Health Service Executive (HSE) ( ga, Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte) is the publicly funded healthcare system in Ireland, responsible for the provision of health and personal social services. It came into operation on 1 January 2005 ...

Health Products Regulatory Authority The Health Products Regulatory Authority is an Irish regulatory agency. It advises the Irish government. It is responsible for both public and animal health. It regulates medicines, medical devices, clinical trials and other health products and ...

* Department of Health, Northern Ireland * Medical Secretaries (Specialist Registrars in Public Health Medicine, Infectious Diseases or Paediatrics)

Meetings

NIAC will meet once every two months. However, the Chair of NIAC or President of the RCPI have the power to call an extraordinary meeting if required. A record of attendance is maintained at every meeting and minutes of meeting will be included in the NIAC annual report and publicly available. NIAC meetings requires the presence of at least 50% of the voting members plus one voting member during the entire meeting and for decision making purposes.

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://www.rcpi.ie/policy-and-advocacy/national-immunisation-advisory-committee/
List of members

Immunisation Guidelines
Department of Health (Ireland)